Queen's historic visit to the Republic of Ireland

The royal visit could provide 'a unique opportunity' for establishing mutual respect and equality on both sides of the Irish Sea, according to Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein.

His party has previously condemned the visit as 'premature and insensitive'. Relations between Britain and Ireland were transformed by the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 which began to heal some of the divisions after centuries of distrust.

Allan Little reports on the historic achievement which the visit represents.